Line tap connecter



Oct. 24, 1933. s BECKER 1,932,010

LINE TAP CONNECTER Filed NOV. 28, 1931 7 32 27 M NH M h 2 El 7 5 v, a 55 54 gwomioz Patented Oct. 24, 1933 p 1,932,010

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 1.1m: rir cf l mo'rha Stephen P. Becker, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Application November 28, 1931 Serial No. 577,741

3 Claims. (01. 173-273) My invention relates to a wire clamp of that Figure '7 shows a detail view of the clamping class known as a hot line top connecter which is member. employed for the purpose of taking a lead off of a Referring to the drawingmain line, or making other taps to live wires The device comprisesabody member 11 formed 5 such as connecting transformers and meters, or with a jaw provided with the transverse V- 5 the device may also be used for clamping one or notch 9, and the bore 13 which is formed with more wires together with or without the use of the dovetail 17, within which ismounted the movthe lead wire. able jaw member 14 which is formed with the In clamps for this purpose it is important that dovetail l8 and a central bore 8 which is thread- 10 a secure grip of the wires is provided and that ed; the movable jaw member 14 being also pro- 65 when two or more wires are secured together, vided with the transverse V-notch 7. that this is done in a parallel manner especially The movable jaw member 14 is also formed when the wires are of different sizes so that the wit a to ue portion having a aded wires can not be moved at an angle to become groove and. a dovetail guide upon its outer sides; 15 loosened. the dovetail entering the dovetailed guideway in 70 It is also important that the device be of such the stationary member, and the half-threads beshape as to be readily taped if desired, and also ing a continuation of those in the body of the that there are no loose parts to become lost, and movable member and tending to increase the that the movable jaw and the clamping bolt are strength of the hold. always in threaded relation. The dovetail guides 17 and 18 are very impor- 1'5 The object of the invention is to provide a detant, in that they at all times provide a guide vice of this kind that shall be simple, durable and for the movable jaw 14, preventing any tilt or tip eflicient, resist vibration and give a positive of the same as it is forced against the wires 22 clamping effect of the wires. in clamping, and preventing its binding on the 25 Another object being to provide a device that threads of the bolt 28. so shall be easily applied or installed in places that F moving th m va J' w m mb r 14 with are t easily accessime, respect to the jaw member 10 and retaining the Also to provide a device that is applicable to Same in clamped position 011 the Wires a hot line or live wire without endangering the upon singlewire the 7 and bolt of cap screw 26 18 provided which has a head 5 30 m ki the installation to h sical m- ?gf ng p y 28 and which passes through the bore 13 and is with these and other objects in View, my threaded into the bore 8, the end of said bolt 26 vention consists in certain construction and combemg Flightly upset at 27130 prevent its bination of parts as will hereafter be fully izioval, a washer 24 being placed under the head scribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like figures of ref- AS shown i thls clamping bolt 22 may be provided with an eye head 23 for the erence refer to corresponding parts in all of the d it i d to d that n ht h n reception of a bar or other tool which may be an s if O g ii employed for tightening the same; this form of may be madiwitmu 18PM mm e bolt being formed with a shoulder 25 and the of the invention. upset end a In the drawing- For the purpose of securing the lead wire 16, Fi u 1 shows a i elevationof the device. the device is formed with the boss 12 which is with 8 Special Clamping Screw, d I dicating two placed at an angle to the body portion 11 and is wires in a clamped position and a lead wire atformed with a bore 19 for the reception of the tached. lead wire 19, which is retained therein by the F s e s ws in nd view ofbotllie device as set screws 15 which are threaded into the boss used wi e usua cap screw or 12 and enter the bore 19.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the same, with It is understood however that I do not confine 50 two wires of diiferent sizes clamped therein. myself to this construction, as other means may Figure 4 shows the other end of the device. be employed to secure the lead wire to the clamp, Figure 5 shows a sectional view of Figure 3. such as a tapered nut threaded into the bore 19, Figure 6 shows a view partly in section to illusor the use of a split bore and cap,.or other suittrate a modified means for clamping the lead able means. 55 wire. It is also to be understood that more than one lead wire may be employed, and that the boss 12 may have more than one bore 19 for this purpose, also that the bore 19 may if desired be par-- of any. suitable material.

As shown in Figure 6, the lead line 16 may be secured by a special clamp bolt 32 which is formed with an axial bore 33 through which the wire 16 is passed, and a threaded portion 34, and a ta-.

pered portion 35 which is provided with a number 01. saw cuts to form a collet; while the boss 12 is formed with a tapered bore 30 and a threaded portion 31 within which the bolt 32 is mounted, and by screwing up on said bolt 32 the collet end will tighten on the wire 16 and hold it in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A line tap connecter, comprising a body member having a clamping jaw and a bore at right angles thereto and below said jaw, a guideway of channel formation with recessed side walls formed in said bore, a movable member formed with a clamping jaw and a tongue at right angles thereto, said movable jaw having a threaded bore said bore extending the length of the tongue in the form of a half-threaded groove, a guide formed on said tongue to slide within said guideway and having projections to engage the recessed portions oi the side walls of the guide-way of said bore, a clamping bolt extending through the bore in said stationary member and threaded into the tongue and bore 01 said movable mem- 2. A line clamp, comprising a body member having a clamping jaw and a bore at right angles thereto and below said law, a guide-way of channel formation with recessed side walls formed in said a bore, a movable member. formed with a clamping jaw and'a tongue at right angles thereto, said movable jaw having a threaded bore, said bore extending the length of the tongue in the form of a halt-threaded groove, a guide formed on said tongue to slide within said guide-way and having projections to engage the recessed portions of the side walls of the guide-way of said bore, and a clamping bolt extending through the bore in said stationary member and threaded into the tongue and bore 01! said movable member.

3. A line clamp, comprising a body member having-a clamping jaw and a bore at right angles thereto and below said jaw, a guide-way oi chan-- nel formation with recessed side walls formed in said bore, a movable member i'ormed with a clamping jaw and a tongue at right angles thereto, and below said jaw, said tongue having a haltthreaded groove extending therealong, a guide formed on said tongue to slide within said guideway and having projections to engage the re- 

